TV's Duggar family: We're not a 'secret weapon,' just a family showing Rick Santorum support

GRAND RAPIDS – Jim Bob Duggar says he’s not Rick Santorum’s “secret weapon,” but said his television reality show family is happy to show the Pennsylvania senator support.

The Duggars, with many of their 19 children, were among the first to arrive at Santorum’s election night party at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

“We’re just hoping we can make a difference,” Duggar said in the hotel’s ballroom as news crews were setting up for the event. “Rick Santorum has been out-spent, and we are just doing what we can for the person we think would be the best president.”

Duggar said Santorum is the true family-values candidate, noting his bills on banning partial birth abortions and welfare reform.

Duggar said the Arkansas-based family prayed about which presidential candidate to support, and on New Year’s Eve decorated the family bus with Santorum’s name and headed to Iowa to hit the campaign trail.